Chapter Twenty

Four months later…

Meredith sat in her velvet dressing robe at her writing desk, having bathed after an early dinner in the luxurious grand Buffalo Hotel where they had decided to make their home since arriving some four months ago. They had thought about renting a home, but the hotel was brand new and really rather grand, having just been hailed as one of the fifteen finest hotels in the entire country. It also afforded a level of privacy that had been terribly beneficial to the Archers since Jack was highly sought after for pushy entrepreneurs.

She had just finished reading a very shocking letter Sarah had sent her and was eager to write back. It seemed the Duchess of Mountebank had passed away. Some sort of fever had passed through London and while death by fever was common, death by fever in one's supposed lover's home was not.

There was no mention in the paper however about the duchess's state of being however. It seemed odd to Meredith that the newspapers wouldn't have mentioned the fact that she was with child, but then perhaps the duke had asked for them not to report it.

It also appeared that the duchess was having several affairs, for at the time of her death, when it was discovered that she had passed away in the house of her lover, several homes were reported to be where the duchess had taken her last breath, but it had certainly cast a dark shadow over the house of Dragmoor.

Sarah and Simon had been surprised that Meredith had basically ran away with Jack, but had been successful in spinning it to the London papers that the two were madly in love and, really, wasn't that nice that a spinster should marry, even if it was a former boxer.

Jack had been terribly proud to read the article that Sarah had sent about their elopement. It had described them both rather poorly, making Meredith sound like an old wretch and him as if he still dined in back alleys.

Still, Meredith had never known herself to be so carefree and happy and Jack was proving to be the most attentive and loving sort of husband. When they had been married for two weeks, he had taken the day off and locked their hotel room door, and made love to her for hours, seemingly trying to erase her previous experiences with marriage. He hadn't spoken it, but Meredith knew what he was trying to prove and she had fallen in love with him all the more since that day.

Sarah's pregnancy was terribly uncomfortable and she had been ordered to rest in bed, which had made Simon damn near impossible to manage, according to her letters. Meredith was just about to write her about their plans for returning when Jack entered the room, having stayed in the lobby to finish some sort of business after dinner.

He paused when he saw her after he closed the door, and Meredith felt giddy. He was forever staring at her like he was surprised she was there and while it was flattering, she wished he would feel comfortable in the fact that she wasn't going anywhere. She had learned in recent months that Jack too delt with feelings of abandonment and while she told him constantly she wasn't going anywhere, she wondered if he believed her. Still, she would tell him every day if she had to, in hopes that he might relax and believe her.

"News?" he asked after a moment, before coming further in to shrug off his coat.

"Yes, quite a lot, I'm afraid," she said. "The duke's wife has passed away."

Jack stilled.

"She's dead?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

"How?"

"Fever."

"Is Mountebank alive?"

"Yes. It seems they were not in the same place. She died in Lord Fenwick's home. Or possibly Mr. Bostone's home."

"You don't know for sure?" he asked, titling his head.

"There are conflicting reports," she explained. "It seems she passed away at one of her lovers' homes."

The expression Jack gave her was one of expectant pity. Evidently, he had witnessed the duchess in a tryst-like embrace during his visit to Dragmoor. Meredith was rather surprised to see it in his eyes but then, Jack had softened in recent months.

"Good lord," he said lowly, shaking his head. "I'm sure Mountebank is hurt."

"I'm sure," she said before changing the subject. "Sarah's uncomfortable," she said, reading the letter once more. "I think she hopes for our return sooner than later. Apparently, Simon is being unreasonable."

"I'd imagine he would be," Jack said, taking off his shoes. "We'll return in a month or so. She won't have the baby without you there, I promise."

Meredith smiled at him, knowing he was eager to return home to Burnwall. He tilted his head.

"Is there something else?"

"Well, yes. A situation has arisen and I'm worried that it's not the best thing for Sarah to be dealing with during her internment."

"What's wrong?"

"Beatrice has run away again. She's been found, but it seems Mama is tightening her hold on her and the poor thing can't bear it."

"Has Simon had no luck with the lawyers?"

"What rights do they have? Sarah says that they're trying everything they can, but they're finding it difficult to get a court that will hear their case. Not that there is much of a case. Mama is stating that Beatrice is simply willful and under no duress, but I know she is."

"Where was Beatrice found?"

"A friend's home. The mama returned her instantly, but I'm worried. This is the third time Beatrice has run away and with her upcoming season on the horizon, it doesn't make any sense that she would. Marriage is the best possible way to escape Mama."

"Maybe she doesn't want to marry?"

"I think she'd prefer marriage to living with my mama."

Jack came up and put his hands on her shoulders. He kissed her neck and Meredith's eyes fluttered shut.

"We'll be home soon. Then you can be burdened with fixing all of this, but until then," he said in her ear as he kissed the soft skin behind her neck. "Come to bed."

"I really must finish this letter."

"You've other duties to attend to," he said, kissing her.

Meredith smiled into his mouth and let him take her.

Her letter could wait until tomorrow. Tonight, she had other things to do.

The End